Extensible supporting device



.I. R. CORBETT.

EXTENSIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1920.

1,370,732. Patented Mar. 8,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. R. CORBETT.

EXTENSIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1920.

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JAMES R. CORBETT, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GLEASON BOARD COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF'NEW YORK.

EXTENSIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1920. Serial No. 382,369.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs R. CORBE'IT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Supporting Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

The present invention relates to an extensible supporting device, and is illustrated in telescopic legs for an embalming table. An object of the invention is to provide an improved telescopically extensible supporting device. To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 shows a side view of an embalming table comprising my invention.

Fig. 2 represents an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top view of a corner of the table with the table top removed showing the top of a leg in position relative a side and end of the table.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the supporting device in fully extended position.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same in collapsed or shortened position.

FFig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 8 is a view of the lower end of the inner wall 20 showing the restricted slotted end thereof.

Similar reference characters throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The principal features of my invention .are the simplicity of construction and ease of manipulation to raise or lower the supporting object whereby either one or two of the extensible legs may be raised at a time.

Although not so limited, my invention is, for'purposes of illustration, shown embodied in an embalming table of the usual folding type in which the top is formed in sections 10 and 11 supported by the telescopically extensible legs 12 and braces 13, which are adapted to be folded about the pivot 32 to a position under the sections, and these sections in turn folded on one another when not in use as is customary. Each table leg comprises a relatively statlonary or upper portion 12 having slidable therein a lower or extensible portion 14 provided at its lower end with a roller, caster, or other suitable supporting device and having alined on one side notches, perforations or other suitable lug engaging means 16. In order to prevent complete withdrawal of the lower slidable portion from the relatively stationary part 12, the former has provided at its top anenlarged shoulderportion 17 cooperating with another enlarged internal shoulder 18 on the lower end of the part 12, and in order to prevent the latter from entering the upper portion farther than intended, and also to' transmit any thrust should the table leg be used in its fully collapsible position, a collar 19 is provided on the lower end of the slidable portion to engage the lower end of the stationary portion 12. For the purpose of transmitting the thrust on the table leg when the portion 12 is in either its partially or fully extended positions, an internal wall or guide 20 is secured to the stationary top portion near its upper end by means of a cap member 21, bolted to the sides of the stationary part, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The lower end of the inner wall carries a locking device or pawl 23, pivoted thereto at 24 within the restricted end portion 25 of the guide 20 and normally pressed by the sprin through t e slot 30 into operative engagement with the perforations 16 when the portion 12 is in its partially extended position, and with the top thereof when it is fully extended as shown in Fig. 4. For the purpose of moving the locking lug into and out of engagement with the slidable member when no spring 26 is used, or for releasing the locking lug from engagement with the slidable portion 14 when the spring 26 is used, a member 27 is pivotally secured to the locking lug at 28, and extends outside the stationary portion to form a handle 29 adj acent the table top and offset, as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 for the pur ose of being near the longitudinal edge 0 the table. Preferably all parts of the present invention are Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

26 or other resilient means i of metal although it will be understood that if desired suitable fiber or other sound deadening material may be used on stop or hearing surfaces, as is old in the art. Connected between the lower ends of the table legs at each end thereof is a bar 31 for purposes of strength and also to act as a foot rest for the operator in raising or lowering the table.

In operation, the sections of the embalming table and the legs 12 are unfolded and extended'in the customary manner. In order to raise or lower one end of the table, the operator stands at that end grasping the handles 29 when by simply raising the handles the locking lug 23 may be caused to disengage the lower slidable portion to raise the table or to lower it when the weight of the table top or legs is sufficient to cause the upper and lower portions 12 and 13 to collapse. The telescoping members may be extended without use of the handles, that is by grasping and raising the table top the pawl 23 may be disengaged from the per forations 16 because of the cooperation between the top portions of the perforations and the gradual bevel 23 on the right side of the pawl as illustrated in Fig. 5. Should the spring 26 be stiff, the operator may need to brace his foot on the cross bar 31 to prevent raising that end of the table of? the floor, in which position more force may be applied to the handles 29 or table top with- 7 out raising the table from the fioor.

Although my invention has been disclosed as being used with an embalming table, it is to be understood that it is not so limited, and that the telescopically extensible portions may be used in any suitable supporting device. Although the parts have been described as being preferably of metal, it will likewise be appreciated that my invention is adaptable for construction of wood or other appropriate material. By having the adjusting handle 29 placed adjacent the top of the table and near the edge thereof the table leg becomes easily adjustable and at the same-time of neater appearance and free from the usual projecting lugs on the lower portion of the leg which are so likely to become disfigured or unclean. If the operating member 27 is used with the spring 26 or its equivalent, it will be apparent that the member 27 need not be secured to the locking lug or pawl 23 but may merely cooperate therewith to move the lug against the action of the spring.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extensible supporting device, telescopic members comprising a relatively stationary member and an interior telescopic extensible member provided with lug engaging means, a movable locking lug secured to and within the stationary member, and adapted to cooperate with the lug engaging means on the telescopic member or an end thereof to hold the same in extended position, and an operating member attached to the locking lug and extending outside the stationary member, said locking lug being automatically disengaged from the lug engaging means when the extensible member is moved outwardly of said stationary member.

2. In a supporting device, a relatively stationary member, another member telescoping the stationary member, and provided thereon with lug engaging means, a movable locking lug mounted within one end portion of the stationary member, and adapted to cooperate with said lug engaging means on said telescoping member to hold the same in extended position, a resilient means in cooperation with the stationary member and locking the lug to position the lug in operative engagement with said telescoping member, and an operating member in cooperation with said lug, which operating member extends outside said stationary member and is adapted to release said lug from operative engagement with said telescoping member, said lug having its side in cooperation with the lug engaging means inclined to the axis of said extensible member an amount suffi- "cient to permit said lug to be disengaged when the extensible member is withdrawn without manipulation of the operating member.

3. In a supporting device, telescopic members, one of which is relatively stationary and the other provided thereon with lug engaging means and slidable within the first mentioned member, the stationary member comprising an inner wall guide in cooperation with said slidable member at only I one end thereof and an outer wall secured to the inner wall at the opposite end thereof and between which walls extends the slidable member, a movable locking lug attached to the end of the inner wall remote from its attachment to the outer wall and adapted to engage the slidable member to hold the same in extended position, and an operating member in cooperation with the lug and extending outside the stationary member.

4. In an extensible supporting device, the combination with a relatively stationary member, of an extensible member slidable therein, an inner stationary thrust member within the extensible member, a locking lug carried by said thrust member, lug engaging means on the extensible member, and an operating rod extending through said thrust member to the outside of the stationary member, said extensible member being in slidable cooperation with both the stationary and thrust members and guided therebetween.

5. A table, a pair of adjustable supporting members located adjacent one end of the table, and each comprising telescopic adjustable members, upwardly slidable adjusting handles therefor located adjacent the top of the table, holding means within each supporting member for retaining the telescopic members in adjusted position, said means being actuated by said handle, and a brace joining the lower ,end portion of each telescopic adjustable member of the pair of supporting members, said telescopic members being extensible without manipulation of said handles.

6. In an extensible supporting device, the combination with a relatively stationary member of an extensible telescoping member slidable within the stationary member, a guide wall within the telescopic members secured to the stationary member adjacent one end thereof and transmitting the thrust on said extensible member when in partially or fully extended position, a pivotal lockin lug secured within said guide wall and adapted to engage the telescoping member toehold the same in extended position, a re silient means in cooperation with the guide wall and lug to position the lug in engagement with the telescoping member, a longitudinally movable operating member engaging said lug to move the same against the action of said resilient means, and a handle our-said operating member extending outside the stationary member adjacent the top thereof.

7. In a supporting device a relatively sta tionary member comprlsmg mner and outer walls, a telescopic extensible member therebetween and guided by the outer wall, and means for retaining said telescopic member in a partially or fully extended position, the inner wall transmitting the thrust on the extensible member.

8. In an extensible supporting device the combination with a relatively stationary member of an extensible telescoping member slidable therein, a guide wall within the telescopic members secured to the stationary member adjacent one end thereof and transmitting the thrust on said extensible member when in partially or fully extended position, an external shoulder on the extensible member in sliding cooperation within the stationary member, an external collar on the extensible member, an internal shoulder on the stationary member in sliding cooperation with the extensible member between its shoulder and collar and slidably bearing upon the extensible member, a pivotal lockin lug secured within said guide wall and adapted to engage the telescoping member to hold the same in extended position, a resilient means in cooperation with the guide wall and lug to position the lug in enga ement with the telescoping member, a ongitudinally movable operating member engaging said lug to move the same against the action of said resilient means, and a handle on said operating member extending outside the stationary member adjacent the top thereof.

JAMES R. CORBETT. 

